Taxi firm asks for new licence despite vehicle being older than council allows
The van has clocked up almost 160,000 miles and is older than the decade limit council policy allows
A south Cumbrian taxi firm has asked for permission for a new licence from the council, despite the vehicle being older than the council allows.
Economical Taxis has a Ford Tourneo Custom 300, based on a Transit van, which was first registered in April 2014.
The van, which now has just shy of 160,000 miles, had been licensed as a hackney carriage since April 13 that year.
But Westmorland and Furness Council policy is for hackney carriage and private hire vehicles to be no older than a decade.
Taxi companies and drivers can apply for the council to grant a licence contrary to the vehicle age limit policy if it is satisfied the vehicle is: suitable in type, size and design for use as a hackney carriage, in a suitable mechanical condition, safe and comfortable.
The council’s South Lakeland regulatory sub-committee will decide upon the application on Friday, September 4 at 10am.
The licensing officer noted in the report on the application that previous regulatory sub-committees in September 2024 and 2025 allowed the age limit policy to be dispensed with for 12 months in respect of the van, meaning this is the third application for it.
An employee of Economical Taxis, which is based in Flookburgh, wrote a letter accompanying the application.
It reads: “We know this vehicle does not meet the current taxi policy because of its age, but as you can see by the pictures, it is in very good condition.
“We are a small business which has been operating for over 30 years and we serve our local community, most of which are elderly and rely on us to take them places such as doctors, hospitals and shopping.”
The letter added the safety of their clients is ‘most important’ to the company.
The committee will meet at Kendal Town Hall on September 4 to decide on the application.